Argentina's Argentinos Juniors and Mexico's Guadalajara recorded valuable away wins in the opening leg of their Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals Wednesday. Argentinos Juniors won 1-0 at Brazil's Palmeiras, while Guadalajara had a 2-1 win at out-of-form Argentine giants River Plate. In Wednesday's other quarterfinal first-leg game, Brazil's Internacional had a 2-0 home win over Argentina's Boca Juniors. Midfielder Escudero's 66th-minute goal was enough for Argentinos Juniors to edge Palmeiras. Escudero, which next year will be playing for Palmeiras' city rival Corinthians, featured in a full-strength Juniors side, while Palmeiras rested most of its regular starters because of the Brazilian league. The four-time national champion is third in the Brazilian standings, only one point behind leader Gremio. Chivas Guadalajara got goals from Omar Arellano and Fabian de la Mora to down River Plate, whose sole goal came via Uruguay forward Sebastien Abreu. River is second last in the Argentine Apertura standings after ten games, with only goal difference preventing the powerful Buenos Aires club being bottom. Striker Alex scored twice in the second half to lead Internacional to a 2-0 victory over Boca Juniors. After a highly defensive first half, Alex broke the ice four minutes into the second on a solo run past several defenders before smashing the ball the into the net's right corner. “We had great teamwork,” Alex said. “Everyone helped each other. In Tuesday's quarterfinal first-leg game, Argentina's Estudiantes had a 2-0 home win over Brazil's Botafogo.” In the six-year history of the tournament - South America's secondary continental club competition behind the Copa Libertadores - no Brazilian club has won, with Argentine clubs winning four. Sofia midfielder banned Lokomotiv Sofia midfielder Nikolay Pavlov was banned for two years by the European football's ruling body UEFA after failing a doping test, his club said on Thursday. Lokomotiv's chief executive Ivo Tonev told Gong radio station that Pavlov will appeal the sanction. The 20-year-old tested positive in a random doping test after a second-leg UEFA Cup qualifier against Serbian side Borac Cacak on Aug. 14, although he had not played. A second Test also confirmed excessive levels of testosterone in Pavlov's urine sample.
